Xiaomi faces EV safety scrutiny after fatal crashes

Xiaomi Corp (1810.HK) said Friday it will form a new advisory committee to review vehicle safety after a series of accidents involving its SU7 electric sedan.

The move comes after heavy public criticism. In one fatal crash in October, the doors of a Xiaomi SU7 reportedly failed after a power outage following a collision. Chinese outlet Caixin said the driver was trapped and later died in a fire.

Electric Vehicle Safety Regulations Tighten

Xiaomi said it already has a safety team of more than 3,500 people and an internal center that reviews accidents. It will now hold regular meetings with car owners, media, and experts. The first session will take place in the first half of the year.

An earlier crash involving the SU7 in Assisted Driving Systems mode, which killed three people, remains under investigation. Official findings have not been released.

The company previously issued a Software Update Recall affecting more than 115,000 SU7 vehicles in September over assisted driving concerns.

Market Impact on Xiaomi Corp (1810.HK)

Deliveries of the SU7 have exceeded 381,000 units as of February. The sedan competes directly with the Tesla Model 3 in China’s crowded EV market.

Chinese regulators are responding. Authorities are tightening rules on marketing claims for assisted driving features. Hidden door handles will be phased out from 2027. Officials are also reviewing possible EV acceleration limits.

Xiaomi has stopped producing the first-generation SU7. It plans to launch an upgraded model in April with a backup power supply for door systems.

The company did not comment on calls from some media outlets to recall all early SU7 models.

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